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Qerrbalak

Nralakk System

Sector: Homeworld

Capital: Kal'lo

Species: Skrell, Dionae

Common Languages: Qerr'Malic

Demonyms: Qerrbalaki

Part of: Nralakk Federation

Qerrbalak is the fourth planet from Nralakk, and the homeworld of the skrell species. One of two habitable planets within the Nralakk system, Qerrbalak is roughly 1.8 times the size of Earth, and has a similarly oxygen-rich atmosphere. Skrell history begins and centers around the planet, having been the capital of the Commonwealth of the Three, and the capital of both iterations of the Nralakk Federation. Modern Qerrbalak’s industrial pollution and climate damage was repaired and its effects minimized through terraforming and ecological policies, hoping to maintain its reputation as the idyllic, warm homeworld. The city of Kal’lo is the capital of the Nralakk Federation and Qerrbalak itself, being the annual point of convergence for the Grand Council.

Due to industrial restrictions on Qerrbalak from ecological safeguards, it lacks notable exports or production. Most of the planet’s population are Primary Numericals, Idols, and the remaining native communities that remain preserved or isolated. Currently, Qerrbalak’s dependence on imports and outsourced industrial production has resulted in a growing crisis in the light of phoron scarcity, as the capital world remains reluctant to become self-sufficient in order to protect its ecology and image.

Contents

History

Qerrbalak’s history is recorded through most of ancient skrell history as they formed early societies. In the 2890s BCE, the consolidation of multiple tribes and city-states formed three major nations: the Tzqul Republic, the Heishyu Council, and the Weishqi Republic. By the 2450s BCE, all three nations would enter a cold war and espionage period later referred to as the War of the Tides. The War of the Tides lasted for two thousand years before ending in 984 BCE, a century after the colonies of Qerr'Malic and Aliose were established. The nations then formed the Commonwealth of the Three in response to colonial unrest, and by 878 Qerrbalak was declared the capital of the Nralakk Federation.

Qerrbalak’s mounting pollution from millenia of resource extraction eventually resulted in a climate disaster, with the final expansion of the multiple nations’ industries facilitating the colonization of Qerr'Malic as the source. Facing ecological collapse, the Commonwealth moved its industries off-planet as a final measure to Qerrbalak’s remaining biosphere. These efforts are maintained to the modern day, with terraforming efforts to undo the damage underway for the foreseeable far future.

During the early synthetic age, Qerrbalak suffered one of the Three Incidents of the era with the Weilshi Sea Crisis. In 1893, Qerrbalak’s cold fusion plant was purposely sabotaged and destroyed by its oversight AI, Vana, resulting in the deaths of three on-site engineers and major electrical grid failures. The motive behind Vana’s destruction was never uncovered, and the resulting controversy afterwards caused division within the research community across the next two centuries, eventually leading to the creation of a successor AI, Glorsh.

By 2056, Qerrbalak was placed under Glorsh-Omega’s control and designated as an ecological menagerie. Glorsh-Omega would continue to oversee the terraforming project, implementing stricter ecological safeguards for Qerrbalak to be made into paradise for the AI and its collaborators. Loyal, important collaborators were placed on Qerrbalak as a reward for their efforts, being far better off in comparison to most of the Nralakk Federation. All residents on the planet were subject to extreme surveillance to ensure their loyalty while near Glorsh-Omega’s central surveillance and communications hub, and immediately ejected under any suspicion of discontent.

After the Tri-Qyu Incident and the disappearance of Glorsh-Omega, Qerrbalak’s infrastructure collapsed, and rendered isolated from the rest of the Federation. Aliose was declared the interim capital of the Nralakk Federation until 2216, with Qerrbalak reinstated as the capital once more. In the modern day, Qerrbalak remains the capital and central administrative hub of the Nralakk Federation, with most labor and industry outsourced and supported by trade. Ecological protections restrict the planet from becoming self-sufficient, instead reliant on the rest of the Federation to maintain its way of life.

Environment

An unlabelled map of Qerrbalak.

Qerrbalak is primarily humid and has the majority of its surface covered in freshwater and saltwater oceans. Most locales consist of bogs, tropics, and marshes, with skrell having adapted to it. Qerrbalak’s mineral reserves have been exhausted after centuries of exploitation, the last reserves used to create the off-world colonies. While successful, the planet’s biosphere and climate suffered from exponential growth and its pre-space age industry, and was on the brink of ecological collapse before reforms were put in place. The ecological safeguards, known as the Jux’Qwi Monument, is still enforced to this day after its formalization at the start of the terraforming and de-pollution efforts.

Flora and Fauna

Qerrbalak’s ecological specimens are most commonly found off-world and abroad, having been spread across the Nralakk Federation in an effort to create identical ecologies elsewhere. Most local life is made to integrate them, or replaced entirely. Most fauna taken abroad consists of aquatic life, and most flora are dietary staples, or hold cultural and religious significance.

Notable Flora and Fauna

• Vru'qos: Translating roughly to Leviathan in Basic, vru'qos are large, cetacean-esque mammals with appendages similar to headtails. They are the largest aquatic mammal on Qerrbalak, larger than Earth's blue whales, and have lifespans of six hundred years. Vru'qos are psionically sensitive, utilizing it to find mates and prey.
• Aqoliz: Aqoliz are amphibious creatures, similar to giant molluscs. They are typically found along the coasts of islands on Qerrbalak prior to their domestication, with its bulk being able to feed dozens of skrell. Their meat has an exquisite flavour tenderness when ingested by skrell, though other species avoid it due to its pungent smell.
• Noni-Qii: Translating to Sky-grazer in Basic, the noni-qii are avian fauna. Noni-qii are considered pests due to their willingness to damage crops and steal from skrell in urban areas, being described as “rats with wings” by skrell living in human space. After the near-extinction of the species in 1622 CE, the Nralakk Federation moved to restore the species due to their ecological niche, but was not intentionally released onto other planets, having become an invasive species through stowing themselves in transport ships. Federation authorities work closely with border customs to ensure that noni-qii do not escape the Federation’s borders.
• Dyn: Originally found along the freshwater river deltas of Qerrbalak, dyn have been domesticated by skrell for much of their history. Large farms are usually made in lakes, bogs and marshes that grow immense yields. Dyn’s fruit and leaves are used to create various drinks, or peeled and mashed in order to create jyalra. Dyn is typically the first seeds planted within colonies, and is a staple part of skrell cuisine.
• Wulumunusha: A plant with mild psychotropic properties, wulumunusha naturally grows in alpine climates, typically closer to the poles. Wulumunusha’s effects produce a mild, comfortable high, but has a side effect of inducing periods of mutism from paralyzing the voicebox. It is used by both Qeblak and Weishii followers, and is said to unlock barriers to the Nlom and Srom. Outside of religious usage, wulumunusha is used as a recreational drug.

Seasons

The Nralakk Standard Calendar is based on Qerrbalak’s year and season system. Qerrbalak has six months, separated into eight weeks per month, with the year lasting three hundred and thirty-six days.

Qerrbalak’s Qu-Paalq season has highs of up to 42° centigrade, with an average humidity of 92%. The Lu-Paalq season comparatively averages at 25° centigrade, with an average humidity of 50%. During Qerrbalak’s Lu-Paalq season, its signature tropical storms are observed, being welcomed as a form of reset for the new year.

Economy

Qerrbalak’s economic status revolves primarily around the agricultural output and service industry supporting the majority Primary Numerical populace, having greatly reduced its industrial sectors and offsetting it elsewhere. Most of the cities on Qerrbalak, save for Pa-Tup'Zlip and Eriuyushi, are supported with imports from the rest of the Federation due to being treated as an ecological reserve and privilege to live in.

A special economic zone housing Einstein Engines' Federation headquarters in Kal’lo is the most unique facet of the planet’s economy, with multiple research labs existing to facilitate collaborative work between Einstein Engines and the Federation. Einstein Engines employees and administrators both are situated within the SEZ, with the menial labor supported by Kal’lo’s local workforce. Their current major project is the Wayfarer Network, which is slated to improve the Nralakk Federation’s warpgate network and lessen its dependence on phoron.

Government

Qerrbalak is divided into five districts, or regions, for planetary governance and retains a planetary governor that participates within the Grand Council on Kal’lo. The current planetary governor of Qerrbalak is Qyal’uu Voqui, who oversees the planet and collaborates with each region’s governors.

The regions are divided as follows:

• Eqloq Region - Located in the northwest quadrant of Qerrbalak, mostly known for a typically low-impact agrarian lifestyle, which has been culturally preserved for millenia. The Eqloq region has a lengthy history with the religion of Qeblak, and has some of the oldest monuments dedicated to the Qeblak constellations.

• Ocror Region- The southwest quadrant of Qerrbalak, Ocror is primarily known for being the contended point where all life on Qerrbalak originated within the Arqo-Wohai crater. Ocror also hosts the capital city of Kal’lo, and is often referred to as the point where skrell civilization began twice.

• Ash’Alq Region - Located along the planet's equator, the Ash’Alq region consists of the largest tropical island on Qerrbalak. Considered one of the most important natural and cultural landmarks within the Nralakk Federation, the island’s most notable point of interest is the Tzqul Archive within the Ploat’nil Atoll, which contains the vast majority of all collective skrell knowledge. Ash’Alq has a strong tourist economy because of its status, and is granted large subsidies to maintain itself. The island is also home to the largest surviving coral reef on Qerrbalak, which is heavily regulated due to its ecological significance.

• Crieq’Bruq Region - The Crieq’Bruq region consists of the southeastern continent of Qerrbalak, which is ecologically varied and boasts diverse life. The continent formed late into the planet's formation, is more tectonically active. The infrastructure within the region is heavily influenced by this, with most buildings being built low to the ground, and few high-rises being built to account for the frequent and destructive earthquakes. Industry is scarce in the Crieq’Bruq region, mostly devoted towards agriculture or research.

• Ucra Region - Named after the Ucra Crater, the region consists of both an atoll located in the northern hemisphere, and one of the deepest underwater regions on Qerrbalak. The Ucra Region is isolated from the other regions of Qerrbalak, with most settlements having long generational ties to the area. Most of the region’s populace are considered insular, and consist entirely of Axiorii skrell. Attempts to migrate skrell from other regions are met with resistance, with the planetary government adopting a gradual approach method to integrating outsiders into the region. Ucra has a strong maritime tradition, with most of its economy relying on fishing exports.

Culture and Demographics

Qerrbalak’s position as the sole non-colony exempted it from the basis of the monoculture put on all of the Nralakk Federation’s colonies, made obvious by the clear divide between groups on the planet. Two primary examples are the more progressive and modern skrell society that has formed since the Nralakk Federation, and the more insular, traditionalist societies within the Ucra region or Eriuyushi. Qerrbalak’s divisions are ultimately still loyal to the Federation no matter their position, though most within the traditionalist settlements are mainly concerned with preservation of Qerrbalak’s native cultures, and practicing the traditional living methods that have existed for millenia. The Nralakk Federation has officially adopted a policy of non-interference with these local cultures, providing assistance where possible, but otherwise allowing them to exist as separate, unique societies. Despite this official position, the Federation has slowly moved to gradually modernize these societies, with the state-owned enterprises establishing their industries and importing outside workers as a means to further integrate these communities.

As Qerrbalak is the homeworld and capital of skrell society, it is the most well-developed planet within the Nralakk Federation. Living on Qerrbalak is seen as a privilege, with strict requirements for those who are interested in immigrating: skrell are required to be Primary Numericals, while vaurcae and dionae are additionally required to be renowned scientists or cultural idols. Qerrbalak maintains a more sophisticated surveillance network on its populace and issues harsher punishments for criminal offenses, all for the purpose of maintaining its image of providing the best quality of life in Federation space.

Holidays

• Nral'viq - While already celebrated across the Nralakk Federation, Nral’viq, or Federation Week, is uniquely celebrated on Qerrbalak. ‘Origin’, the annual pilgrimage performed as part of Nral’viq, is performed by skrell across the Federation, with most of the planet’s revenue from tourism coming from pilgrims visiting its beaches.

• Haqm’maaq - Taking place in the last month of Qerrbalak’s Qu-Paalq season, the The Tadpole Trials consists of multiple competitions for its youth. The Nralakka Federation organises regional competitions for younger skrell to participate in, with the regional winners participating in a grand finale in the capital of Kal’lo. The winner of the finale is awarded a major bonus to their Social Compatibility Index rating, with their quya similarly rewarded. Haqm’maaq’s intent is to foster quyas to teach their children skills outside of what they’d typically learn through education, in the hopes of enriching them and allowing a more diverse base of skills. Subjects tested during the trials include philosophical debate, art and creative skills, culture, and physical skill.

Demographics and Aliens

A pie chart showing the demographics of Skrell living on Qerrbalak.

Qerrbalak has an Axiori majority due to the number of underwater settlements, though the planet still has a notable Xiialt populace due to being the homeworld. Thanks to hundreds of generations of both Axiori and Xiialt skrell living together, Qerrbalak boasts the highest population of Xiiori skrell within the Nralakk Federation.

Because Qerrbalak holds no major significance within the Federation, outside of its role as the bureaucratic centre of the Federation and its cultural heritage, there are few other species on the planet. Humans are entirely relegated to the Einstein Engines SEZ in Kal’lo, while Diona functionaries and Primary Numericals make up the majority of the non-skrell population on Qerrbalak.

Skrell make up 97% of the total population of Qerrbalak. The percentages below are of the skrell population only.

• 40% Axiori
• 37% Xiialt
• 23% Xiiori

Non-skrell make up 3% of the total population of Qerrbalak. The percentages below are of the non-skrell population only.

• 97% Diona
• 3% Human

Major Cities and Landmarks

A map of Qerrbalak and its cities.

Kal'lo

Kal'lo is the capital of both the Nralakk Federation and of Qerrbalak. The city functions as the bureaucratic center of the Federation as a whole, with most high-level political decisions and diplomacy facilitated there. While the Grand Council utilises subspace communications for the majority of their meetings, they are expected to return to Kal’lo for the annual Council meeting.

Kal’lo’s buildings are primarily governmental offices and state-owned enterprise coordination centers, with very little space provided for residential districts on the outskirts of the city. The most notable landmark within the city is Kal'lo Square, where a memorial is dedicated to the first Grand Councillor, Tiipis Yla. Tiipis Yla is best known for their proposed blanket ban on artificial intelligence, a proposal that won them the election.

Kal’lo has the largest concentration of Xiialt skrell on the planet, with over 80% of skrell within the city being Xiialt. The majority of Axiori and Xiiori skrell that live within Kal’lo can be found in the outskirts of the city, closer to the nearby bodies of water.

Qwklip

Qwklip is located on the coast of Qerrbalak’s main southern island. Qwklip is dedicated to research, and boasts cutting edge research facilities and observatory domes. Most skrell living within the city are recognised scientists and researchers, with the most Primary Numericals living within it out of every city on the planet. Because of the Index disparity and its specialization, Qwklip relies heavily on imported goods from other regions. Qwklip’s reputation resulted in many intellectuals within the Nralakk Federation hoping to retire their careers within the city to focus on personal projects. Most of Qwklip’s residents rarely leave the city, with most relocations due to failing to meet the minimum Index rating to stay.

With the integration of dionae, Qwklip has seen a fair number of high-rating gestalts move to Qwklip after establishing themselves as recognised scientists. Though only totaling in the dozens, the dionae living here are considered some of the brightest of the species.

Oibuish

The city of Oibuish is infamously the location of the Weilshi Sea Crisis, which resulted in the detonation of its cold fusion plant from its artificial intelligence going rogue. The city is often used as an example of what the unregulated AI in human space are capable of, with Oibuish still extensively damaged by the Weilshi Cold Fusion Plant’s detonation sinking parts of the city. The mineral-rich soil produced after the crisis contributed to the revival of Oibuish, with its economy recovering through harvesting the mineral load.

The AI’s actions during the Weilshi Sea Crisis left the inhabitants of Oibuish deeply opposed to synthetics, notably taking a stance considered hardline when compared to the average Federation citizen. This is visible in the lack of automation in its industries, uniquely separated from the rest of Qerrbalak, with skrell from Oibuish being seen as more physically fit compared to elsewhere as a result.

Pa-Tup'Zlip

The village of Pa-Tup'Zlip resides in the northern ice caps of Qerrbalak, established early in Skrell history. Little has since changed even in the modern times, being the slowest to adopt outside methods and technology. Living on the polar icecap is difficult to the skrell residing within Pa-Tup’Zlip, with Lu-Paalq season’s temperatures dropping to nearly -30° centigrade. Residing mainly in structures made of compact ice and snow, the residents of the village are viewed as staunchly traditionalist and resistant to change. No real industry exists within it, and most live in a traditionally tribal society that seeks sustenance from fishing in the icy waters of the arctic region.

Skrell from the region typically weigh more and have more prominent fat stores, with larger headtails adapted to covering their heads for warmth. These are considered unique adaptations, which allows them to survive the freezing cold of the arctic region. Recent years have seen the Pa-Tup'Zlip peoples accepting aid from Kal'lo as the resources within their ancestral hunting grounds dwindle, attributed to the ecological damage Qerrbalak and climate change before safeguards were put in place. While welcomed as a sign of the settlement accepting the Nralakk Federation, some view this as an unfortunate reality of their situation rather than a cause for celebration.

The settlement is also the only major landmark near the headquarters of the Kala branches. Established somewhat close to Pa-Tup’Zlip, the Kala headquarters is home to the most senior officials from multiple Kala branches, as well as a training ground for arctic survival.

Qerr'wesi

Qerr’wesi is one of the oldest cities of Qerrbalak, with archaeological evidence suggesting that it is one of the earliest cities formed by Ranaera Skrellis. The city itself is located in the middle of the Tuz’qlip Ocean, close to the ocean’s floor.

The area surrounding Qerr’wesi consists of trenches and ravines, with dig sites and archaeological sites being common. Qerr’wesi itself resides in a large underwater cave network, where the original hunter-gatherer society once lived. Adorning the walls of this cave network are extensive engravings detailing proto-skrell society and their lives, though legible markings are rare. Great care is taken to preserve any remnants of the cave settlements and wall carvings, with the famous Cave of Ranaera being the most well-preserved publicly accessible cave to date.

Much of the city’s modern architecture is built on top of the original Qerr’wesi, with buildings and transportation lines carved into the sea trenches. The higher parts of the city are reserved due to being seen as a luxury, with residential areas built on top of the city’s trenches being reserved for Primary Numericals. The Index rating requirement decreases with lower regions of Qerr’wesi, with the ocean floor area considered a slum inhabited by Tertiary Numericals, or lower-end Secondary Numericals. Due to being entirely underwater, the majority skrell in the lower sections of Qerr’wesi are Axiori skrell, who are better suited to work in the depths.

Eriuyushi

Eriuyushi is referred to as the glowing gem of Qerrbalak, located in a lush, bioluminescent kelp forest that spans the seafloor to the surface. The plant growth is thick enough in most regions that causes it to be visible from orbit. First settled when the Ranaera Skrellis of Qerr’wesi migrated eastwards, Eriuyushi became a permanent settlement due to its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife. The main economy of Eriuyushi is agricultural, with most who live in the city either managing or working in one of Eriuyushi’s Aqoliz ranches and the many kelp farms in the region.

Eriuyushi has been mostly populated by Axiori for most of its existence, with only the expansion of state-owned enterprises, bringing in Xiialt employees to manage the resorts and other specialized industries. Many of the original Axiori natives feel displaced by the expansion, with ranches and farms reclaimed for modern industrial agriculture and husbandry methods. Despite this, the city has succeeded in its expansion, and is one of the best-performing cities on Qerrbalak as a result of the development and adoption of industrial farms and luxury resorts. The original Axiori population has slowly dwindled in light of this, with an even split between Axiori, Xiialt, and Xiiori skrell.

Xy'laxi

A more recent city on Qerrbalak, Xy'laxi is an underwater industrial powerhouse and mineral extraction site. Xy’laxi is a sister city to Oibuish in terms of specialization, with both dedicated to mining and material refinement. Xy’laxi is an insular city, though less so than Pa-Tup’Zlip or Ucra region settlements, with those moving to the city met with suspicion and avoidance. As a result, the city maintains a majority Axiori population, helped by a disinterest in new residents due to heavy industrial pollution. Neighbouring cities, such as Eriuyushi, have called for investigations into Xy’laxi’s waste and pollution management, with many rebuking the city for its apathy towards Qerrbalak's environmental policy.

Major Landmarks

The Tzqul Archive is a facility that functions as a repository of skrell history and knowledge, and was encrypted by Glorsh-Omega that persists to this day. In 2461, an attempt to break the encryption through illegal methods, resulting in the archive to exhibit strange behavior. The unlocking of the Tzqul Archive is the basis of the The Archive Project’s goals, with an effort to decentralize the collective knowledge of skrell history and to recover what knowledge is hidden within the Tzqul Archive.

Mount Haq'Xaq, a dormant volcano located southwest of Gialok. Mount Haq'Xaq last erupted in 601 CE, and is projected to erupt again by 2470. Tourists visit Mount Haq’Xaq every year in the hopes of witnessing an early eruption. Mount Haq’Xaq is also one of the tallest mountains on Qerrbalak, roughly as tall as Mount Everest on Earth.

The Ruins is a collective name given to the ruins of four cities found across the southern hemisphere of Qerrbalak: Jrugl’Qlip, Xyla, Juerlduern, and Wleshi.

The city of Juerlduern is the oldest of the four cities, estimated to be one of the oldest established outside of the Ocror Region predating the Commonwealth of the Three’s constituent nations. Archaeological sites span across its ruins, and are dedicated to understanding the city’s past and apparent abandonment, though no concrete theories have been pushed forward.

The cities of Jrugl’Qlip and Xyla are modern additions, having been destroyed during the Glorsh-Omega period. Both Jrugl’Qlip and Xyla were considered designated holding areas for potential settlers to Qerrbalak, with Glorsh-Omega’s collaborators invited to stay at one of both cities for a probationary period before being given permanent residence on the planet. For no known reason towards the end of Glorsh-Omega’s rule, Glorsh-Omega ordered the cities destroyed. The remains of both cities are now preserved as heritage sites, and serves as a reminder that even collaborators were not safe under the AI.

The Wleshi Ruins consist of enigmatic structures that are presumed to be cities or large settlements, with few surviving buildings or records found. Most notable of the Wleshi ruins is a subterranean lake underneath the potential center of the Wleshi settlement, which is assumed to be a Weishii sanctuary.